(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of March 2017, Germany held as the third largest importing market of Vietnam shrimp in the EU, accounting for 3% of total shrimp export of Vietnam to markets. In Jan-Mar 2017, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Germany reached US$18.4 million, down 22.8% over the same period in 2016.

In the period, exports of Vietnam whiteleg shrimp to Germany took the main share of 83% while those of black tiger shrimp picked up the proportion of 12% in Vietnam’s total shrimp exports to this market.

For whiteleg shrimp, Germany mainly imports live/fresh/frozen items from Vietnam for domestic consumption, processing and re-exporting. In addition, cooked shrimp and peeled shrimp are also quite popular in Germany.

For 10 years (2007-2016), Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Germany were not stable. Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Germany peaked at US$140.3 million in 2014, a sharp rise of 245% from the lowest level in 2007 (US$40.6 million). From 2007 to 2011, Vietnam shrimp exports to the market continuously grew and reached the highest value in 2011, then decreased and peaked in 2014. In 2015 and 2016, exports to Germany decreased compared to 2014 due to currency fluctuations, shrimp prices fell and the euro devalued due to political instability in the EU such as Brexit event or resignation of Italian president.

According to ITC, Vietnam stayed as the second largest shrimp supplier to Germany, behind the Netherlands, accounting for about 16% of total German shrimp imports. In the first two months of 2017, shrimp imports into Germany valued at US$87.7 million, down 2.6% over the same period last year.